Chapter 291: Shocking Court

But danger often goes hand in hand with opportunity.

To leave the Chong Yuan Secret Realm, one must go to the designated point to be able to teleport out.

If one is greedy for the opportunity to quickly increase strength in the Chong Yuan Secret Realm and mingles among the Black Tide Monsters,

then it is extremely likely they will perish in the erosion of the Black Tide.

Ultimately becoming a member of the Black Tide!

Before, they had heard of a Martial Emperor‑level existence that fell within the Black Tide!

After that, occasionally someone claims to have seen that Martial Emperor among the Black Tide Monsters.

But these are merely rumors!

These officials only know that it is an extremely dangerous yet extremely alluring place!

Even if everyone knows that Chong Yuan is extraordinarily dangerous.

Outsiders still flock to it!

"Your Majesty, this is truly great news!"

"Prime Minister Ye Kai, upon hearing this, likewise could not suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth,"

"The Chong Yuan Secret Realm opens only once every ten years, with entrances spread across the entire continent!"

"If we can be the first to enter this time, we will surely reap great gains!"

Xiao Wandi naturally also understands this principle,

"What the Prime Minister said is not wrong, but entering the Chong Yuan Secret Realm is no trivial matter; it must be carefully considered."

"Although the main force needs to enter the secret realm, we must retain sufficient strength to guarantee the safety of the Ben Lang Guo citizens!"

When the Chong Yuan Secret Realm appears, the life or death of those who enter is uncertain.

Some countries will not choose to enter Chong Yuan; instead they will take advantage when other countries' main forces enter Chong Yuan and their defenses are empty, launching a large‑scale invasion!

Even if those who enter Chong Yuan return, the situation is already decided and hard to reverse.

Therefore we must retain sufficient troops to protect the people's safety!

The Ben Lang Guo populace is martial and fears not the slight dangers within the Chong Yuan Secret Realm.

This time, to enter the Chong Yuan Secret Realm, we may have to scramble desperately!

When the officials' discussion had slightly subsided, the Prefect of Jiannan Prefecture, Zhang Jiannan, stepped forward, holding a scroll in his hand.

"Your Majesty, this is the document of my Jiannan Prefecture; please have a look."

Xiao Wandi waved his hand,

"Just hand the document to the Prime Minister for handling."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this is no trivial matter; please be sure to personally review it."

Seeing Zhang Jiannan's insistent attitude, the officials above all showed doubtful looks.

According to regulation, the documents of each prefecture are usually submitted quarterly or annually.

They are handed over to the Secretariat headed by Prime Minister Ye Kai for review.

For the most important matters, which the Secretariat cannot decide on its own, they are then submitted to Your Majesty for personal review.

What major matter has occurred in Jiannan Prefecture that makes Zhang Jiannan dare to oppose Your Majesty's decision in court?

Although Xiao Wandi is exceptionally strong in martial prowess, that does not mean he is a reckless fool!

Seeing Zhang Jiannan's persistence, he gave a glance to the guard beside him.

The guard immediately went down the steps and took the scroll from Zhang Jiannan's hand.

This is also a tradition that distinguishes Ben Lang Guo from other countries.

Ben Lang Guo has no position of eunuch.

This is the confidence of successive Ben Lang Guo monarchs in their own lineage's strength.

They do not worry at all that anyone could seize their position!

The guard walked back to the throne side and presented the scroll to Xiao Wandi.

Xiao Wandi opened the scroll and looked; his curious gaze froze.

Immediately afterward, Xiao Wandi quickly closed the scroll and asked in an urgent tone,

"Zhang Jiannan, are the matters recorded on this scroll true?"

Seeing Xiao Wandi rarely show anxiety,

the officials above, even including Prime Minister Ye Kai, all became curious.

Curious what exactly is recorded on this scroll that could cause Your Majesty to lose composure so.

Zhang Jiannan slightly bowed his hands and spoke in a deep voice,

"Reporting to Your Majesty, after receiving the news I personally went to verify; this should be correct."

"Hahaha! Good!"

Xiao Wandi's anxious emotion vanished, replaced by a hearty, unrestrained laugh,

"Issue my decree: effective today, grant a general amnesty and exempt all our people from three months of taxes!"

Hiss!

Upon hearing Xiao Wandi's decree, everyone couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.

A general amnesty would be bad enough.

Exempting three months of taxes for the whole country—what a terrifying concept!

The vast Ben Lang Guo governs over how many people—surely more than a billion!

Exempting the entire populace's taxes for a full three months is absolutely an astronomical figure!

Now even Prime Minister Ye Kai cannot help but become curious,

Old minister dares to ask Your Majesty, what matter could actually make Your Majesty so delighted?

You should know, even if the Dean had calculated the exact location of the Chong Yuan Secret Realm, it still couldn't make His Majesty this excited.

What kind of news could the information on this document possibly be?

My Ben Lang Guo's Sword South Prefecture has produced another sword cultivator and another spear cultivator!

Xiao Wandi's words fell.

The officials' hearts shuddered instantly!

Sword cultivators and spear cultivators are extremely rare throughout Ben Lang Guo.

Sword cultivators are relatively better, after all, swords are a more common weapon.

All of Ben Lang Guo also has a dozen or so.

But spear cultivators, there isn't a single one!

Everyone secretly thought, no wonder His Majesty is so excited; the emergence of spear and sword cultivators is indeed worth celebrating!

Next, Xiao Wandi seemed to have a bit of mischievous interest, laughing as he said,

Not only that, these two heaven's pride prodigies, just over twenty years old, jointly slew a Martial Venerable strong enemy!

What?!

Xiao Wandi's words were like a thunderclap from the nine heavens crashing down.

Everyone present felt as if struck by five thunders to the crown, this news left them dazed and dizzy!

Twenty years old?

Jointly slay a Martial Venerable?

This is utter nonsense, like something from the Arabian Nights!

They couldn't have misheard, could they?

Chancellor Ye Kai found it hard to believe, swallowed, and instinctively asked,

Your Majesty, this old minister's hearing isn't great; did Your Majesty just say that these two heaven's pride prodigies are just over twenty?

Ye Kai's question clearly voiced what everyone present was thinking.

Xiao Wandi nodded solemnly,

That's right!

If not for this news, how could he have been so shocked that his tone of inquiry became so urgent?

The identities of sword and spear cultivators, while worthy of great joy for him, the King of Ben Lang Guo,

but it wasn't enough to make him lose composure like this.

Slaying a Martial Venerable at twenty years old is what truly shocked him!

Even if they joined forces, it would absolutely shock the world!

Xiao Wandi, as the strongest of Ben Lang Guo and the sole Martial Emperor,

His legitimate son, around twenty years old, had only just managed to reach the Martial Ancestor realm!

Even relying on his status as prince and relying on formidable martial skills and spiritual artifacts,

at most he could only match a Martial Venerable for a short time.

If Martial Venerables were really that weak, then everyone in the court would probably be Martial Kings!

But in reality, even the court officials of Ben Lang Guo, the high-ranking ministers,

there are several who are peak Martial Venerable experts.

Although they possess the strength to rival a Martial King, a Martial Venerable is still a Martial Venerable.

These people all gave a bitter, wry smile.

In that case, in a few years these two heaven's pride prodigies might become opponents we can't even face!